In this Article

• What is cancer?
• What kinds of cancers are considered cancers of the head and neck?
• How common are head and neck cancers?
• What causes head and neck cancers?
• What are common symptoms of head and neck cancers?
• How are head and neck cancers diagnosed?
• What health professionals treat patients with head and neck cancers?
• How are head and neck cancers treated?
• Are clinical trials (research studies) available for patients with head and neck cancers?
• What rehabilitation or support options are available for patients with head and neck cancers?
• Is follow-up treatment necessary? What does it involve?
• What can people who have had head and neck cancer do to reduce the risk of developing a second primary (new) cancer?
• Head and Neck Cancer Glossary
• Head and Neck Cancer Index

Is follow-up treatment necessary? What does it involve?

Regular follow-up care is very important after treatment for head and neck cancer to make sure the cancer has not returned, or that a second primary (new) cancer has not developed. Depending on the type of cancer, medical checkups could include exams of the stoma, mouth, neck, and throat. Regular dental exams may also be necessary. From time to time, the doctor may perform a complete physical exam, blood tests, x-rays, and CT, PET, or MRI scans. The doctor may continue to monitor thyroid and pituitary gland function, especially if the head or neck was treated with radiation. Also, the doctor is likely to counsel patients to stop smoking. Research has shown that continued smoking may reduce the effectiveness of treatment and increase the chance of a second primary cancer. The NCI fact sheet Follow-up Care: Questions and Answers has more information about this topic.

What can people who have had head and neck cancer do to reduce the risk of developing a second primary (new) cancer?

People who have been treated for head and neck cancer have an increased chance of developing a new cancer, usually in the head and neck, esophagus, or lungs. The chance of a second primary cancer varies depending on the original diagnosis, but is higher for people who smoke and drink alcohol. Patients who do not smoke should never start. Those who smoke should do their best to quit. Studies have shown that continuing to smoke or drink (or both) increases the chance of a second primary cancer for up to 20 years after the original diagnosis. Information about smoking cessation is available from the CIS (see below) and in the NCI fact sheet Questions and Answers About Smoking Cessation.

Some research has shown that isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid), a substance related to vitamin A, may reduce the risk of the tumor recurring (coming back) in patients who have been successfully treated for cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx. However, treatment with isotretinoin has not yet been shown to improve survival or to prevent future cancers.

SOURCE: U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute

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